Areas · 514 stories
Cafés, restaurants and places in Gyeongbuk, written by bloggers who went there.
Buja Hodu is a walnut pastry shop tucked in a backstreet just off the main Hwangnidan-gil road in Gyeongju. On a late weekend afternoon walk after Bomun Tourist Complex, I stopped by and ordered a 24-piece mix (red bean, pea cream cheese, matcha) with an iced americano, and the chewy Korean rice-dough texture packed with a whole walnut stood out. A solid Gyeongju travel snack and a decent holiday gift too.
Kkotdwaeji Sikdang Gyeongsan Branch is a pork belly and beef intestine barbecue restaurant in Gyeongsan's Oksan 2 District. The reviewer ordered the Kkotdwaeji set with daechang (beef intestine) hot pot and doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew), getting pre-grilled pork belly, pork neck, pork skin and four kinds of kimchi, finished with a spicy daechang hot pot with udon noodles added. With a large parking lot behind the building, group seating and even baby spoons, it's a solid pick for family gatherings or company dinners.
Cafe Dongi Yeungnam University Art Center Branch is a Korean restaurant on the 2nd floor of the main hall at Yeungnam University's Cheonma Art Center in Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk. A couple visited on a weeknight for the individual-brazier grilled pork jeongsik set, bulgogi yeolmu bibimbap, kimchi jeon, king shrimp tempura, and fried mandu, frying their own eggs at the self-bar to mix in. A tidy, generous spread and the fry-your-own-egg bar made for a comforting end to a tiring weekday.
Gallilli Daegae Hoe Sikdang is a snow crab and live fish sashimi restaurant in Jukdo Market, Pohang. The ₩200,000 Gallilli set for two came with bakdal snow crab, Dokdo shrimp, live sashimi of sea bass, red snorkel bream, and flounder, plus mulhoe, hoe-muchim, and clam soup, and the buttery roe from the grilled Dokdo shrimp heads was the standout. Portions were so generous that they swapped the spicy stew for seafood ramen and still packed leftover sashimi to go — a solid pick for a sashimi restaurant in Jukdo Market.
Sonsi Sushi Hayang branch is an aged-sushi restaurant near Hayang Station in Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk, close to Daegu Catholic University. The value set was upgraded to a premium 12-piece sushi platter and paired with anago-liver futomaki, aged vinegar-gochujang sashimi rice bowl, bonito udon, and fried shrimp, all served with a low-sodium aged soy sauce brewed from Gyeongsan's local jujubes. Recommended for anyone who wants to really taste the umami of aged sushi.
Ddeoggogi Ttaenggijae is a charcoal grill restaurant in Hyeongok-myeon, Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk. On a rainy day, the writer grilled AI-pre-grilled whole pork belly over charcoal, paired with homemade side dishes, gyeolmyeongja (cassia seed) tea, steamed egg, marinated crab, and doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew). With wide table spacing, a baby chair, and a camping-style terrace, it's a great spot for families.
Bapeul Jitda Gyeongsan Main Branch is a Korean restaurant (hanjeongsik) on Samseonghyeon-ro in Gyeongsan, Gyeongbuk, known for its gallery-like hall with floor-to-ceiling windows and plenty of parking. On a weekday lunch, a phone reservation landed a solo seat at a six-person table for the chilled mulhoe (raw fish and vegetable cold soup) set, served with abalone, shrimp, vegetables, rice, side dishes, fried eggplant and boiled meat. No bloating afterward — a solid pick for family or group gatherings in Gyeongsan.
Hyoeunok Gyeongju Branch is a beef rib restaurant near Bomun Lake in Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk, set in a tile-roofed hanok building with mother-of-pearl interior décor and private room seating. A family of three sat in the inner room and ordered the Ppyeoberest Original 5-item set, working through beef rib hot pot, beef shabu-shabu, knife-cut noodles, and gondre porridge, with ribs so tender the bone slid off with just a pair of tongs. It's a strong pick if you're bringing parents along or hosting a family gathering while in Gyeongju.
Goyu is a modern Korean dining restaurant in Hwangnidan-gil, Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk. Visiting for dinner with a child, the writer ordered cold pork with doenjang kale ssambap (wrapped rice), hanwoo yukhoe (raw beef) buckwheat noodles, and cheese potato pancake paired with Korean cheongju (rice wine), alongside neat side dishes like beef radish soup and geotjeori (fresh kimchi). It's a comfortable spot for a full evening spread with family or on a date.
Dongyang Baekban Gyeongju Hwangridan-gil Main Branch is a hanok-style Korean restaurant on Hwangridan-gil in Gyeongju. The tomato cheese dakbokkeumtang (braised spicy chicken stew) is made with herbal medicinal broth, boneless chicken and generous glass noodles, and comes with refillable side dishes and egg rice. A strawberry ice gyeongdan (rice cake) from the review event capped off a satisfying meal.
Tareudang is a takeout fruit mochi and yogurt shop in the middle of Hwangnidan-gil, Gyeongju, Gyeongbuk. Visiting on a weekday meant no waiting, and a box of four — mango yogurt, kiwi yogurt, gold kiwi, and fresh chocolate — came to around ₩20,000s, with the whole-mango mochi being the biggest and juiciest of all. The domestic sticky rice mochi was wonderfully chewy, making it a great gift too.
Sonsi Sushi Yeungnam University Main Branch is a hand-crafted sushi restaurant that has stood near Yeungnam University in Gyeongsan for 10 years. Visiting for dinner with a sibling's couple, the writer ordered the value set, futomaki, aged soy sauce chicken don, and extra assorted sushi, all made richer by a low-sodium aged soy sauce brewed from Gyeongsan's local jujubes. The verdict: quality far beyond what a university-area restaurant is usually credited with.
